Buyers beware of fake swine flu vaccines

The first sets of H1N1 flu virus vaccines were shipped this week and, according to the Food and Drug Administration, online pharmacies are already trying to cash-in on people trying to get vaccinated.

As if the "swine flu" threat needed another unsettling twist, the FDA already has a "fraudulent products list" full of merchandise that is not "cleared, approved, or authorized for the diagnosis, mitigation, prevention, treatment, or cure of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus." 

From hand sanitizers to supplements to -- perhaps most strangely -- shampoo, the list features more than 100 flu remedies or preventatives that haven't been through the FDA's approval process. The real vaccines, on the other hand, have been approved by the FDA.

The moral of the story: Don't try and buy swine flu medicine on the Internet. The H1N1 vaccinations are made by the same manufacturers that make the seasonal flu vaccines, developed and tested in the same manner as the seasonal flu shot. But the H1N1 vaccines are not available online.

So where are the real vaccines and how does a person get one that's legit?  The real vaccines are in the same place you'd go to get a normal flu shot - your doctor, your pharmacy or your local health department.  The vaccines will be rolled out across the country over the upcoming weeks, starting with the nasal spray. Check with your health care providers to see when they're available in your area; distribution plans differ because they are being carried out by local authorities. The Centers for Disease Control says they don't anticipate a shortage of vaccines, so don't trip your neighbor as you're trying to get to the doctor's office.

There are a few other things to be aware of as you navigate this double-whammy flu season, so here's a quick Q & A on the rest of the H1N1 vaccination details:

Who should get the vaccination?

The CDC recommends that people who want to reduce their chance of getting H1N1 get the vaccine. But the highest priority recipients come in five target groups: pregnant women, caregivers for infants, health-care and emergency medical services personnel, people with conditions that put them at higher risk for the flu and children/young adults, aka people 6-months to 24-years-old. That last part is important, because unlike the regular flu, H1N1 is striking the young more than the old.

Does the H1N1 vaccine protect me from the seasonal (regular) flu?

No, not this year.  You need two flu vaccines: one for H1N1 and one for the seasonal flu, otherwise known as your normal flu shot.

How else can I protect myself and others against the flu?

As NBC's Chuck Todd undoubtedly knows after HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius publicly chastised him: Sneeze into your arm, not your hand.  Don't touch your face, especially your nose and eyes. And wash your hands! You shouldn't have a hard time remembering that, but just in case, you can always watch this, ahem, handy video from Henry the Hand.

If that didn't answer all your questions, more information can be found at the aptly named flu.gov, run by Health and Human Services.

-- Erin Green is a contributor to the Yahoo! News Blog.